Posted by SueTLC

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A radio station in London, England is reporting that an open casting call is taking place for the film “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” for the parts of Lavender Brown and a young Tom Riddle. These casting calls are reportedly being held on July 1 for the part of Lavender,and July 8 for the young man who would later become Lord Voldemort. Seeking young actors between the ages of 15 and 18 years old, residents of the UK or Ireland, the article quotes WB as saying:

“We meet Tom when he is 16 and at Hogwarts. We are looking for someone between 15 and 18 years old to play him.”

“He is a boy that other kids want to be friends with. He is a leader and other children want to be around him. He is not a warm boy but he is very charismatic. Both staff and children are “Lavender is in the same year as Harry, Ron and Hermione at Hogwarts. We are looking for someone between 15 and 18 years old to play her.”

“Lavender is a pretty and lively girl who loves to be the centre of attention. She is determined to make Ron her boyfriend and when she gets him, she is then deeply possessive of him.”

“She reacts in an extreme way to everything. She tends to be either laughing or crying hysterically. You must be aged between 15 and 18 years old – auditions will be at Earls Court in London on Sunday 1st and Sunday 8th July.”probably all a little scared of him.”

Please note: we do not know if this means that Christian Coulson will not be back in the role of a younger Voldemort for certain and will update with more on this and any future casting news when we can. Thanks Heike!

73 Responses to Open Casting Call For “Half-Blood Prince” Film Reported for London

says:

maybe Christian Coulson is too old now? I wonder how much of the casting will be based on how much the new actor looks like CC?

twould be a dream to be in a HP movie!

oh and, sue, i know you are really busy right now, but a quick editing check of the post wouldnt have gone astray :P .

says:

I don’t look like Lavender… I don’t act… but but but I’m already in London the next day XD

says:

OT: Wombat resultas are on their way. The clock has moved to being delivered or what ever it says. :-)

says:

I hope whoever plays Tom Riddle is a hottie!

says:

Cool, I can’t wait to see who will play Tom Riddle and Lavender Brown. I bet the girl who will play Lavender will be quite nervous as she will have at least a couple of kissing scenes in the film.

says:

Whenever I listen to “Everyday I love you less and less” by Kaiser Chiefs, I always think of Ron and Lavender. The lyrics remind me of what Ron is going through when he wants to end it with her. It’s a great anti-love song.

says:

I dunno why, but the news that they’re casting for Lav, is actually making me more worried about how the whole Ron-lav-Hr is going to excuted in the film .. :(
Oh, well …

Oh, and about Riddle, I thought they’d need the 11 years old Tom not the teen one….. Don’t they already have the teen one?

says:

Cinderella- Christian Coulson, who played Tom in CoS, was 20something when filming that, about 5 years ago ;) So he might look too old now to play a teenager!

says:

I so wish I was Brittish or Irish, maybe we could make a character Australian and then we’d have a chance.

says:

Oh, ok thanx Becca :)

I wonder if they’ll cast the 11 years old Tom or not … hmmmmm…
I would love to see that part in the film :) All the parts with young voldy were just fascinating….

says:

Meh…I couldn’t care less about casting Lavender…she’s not a very important character. Young Tom probably won’t have much screen time either.

says:

I think it’s sad that only people from the UK may enter the casting. Even though J.K. Rowling is standing on it.

says:

I think it’s quite good that only people from Britain can be casted [except for those playing foreign characters of course]. I know it must be horrible for people from other countries, but Harry Potter is British through & through and to have a foreign person playing one of the characters I don’t think would be right.

says:

I hope they cast 11 yr. old Tom for the orphanage scene. I will be very disappointed if it’s not in the film. That scene is vital b/c it sets up how Riddle liked to collect “trophies” and will help introduce the horcruxes later.

says:

It says that “we meet Tom when he is 16 and at Hogwarts,” which means that the orphanage scene is most likely cut out. Well that sucks. I was really looking forward to that! JKR wrot that scene with such detail (the gin slopping and such. haha) thatI was sure it would be added. Boo.

says:

Think CC prolly does look too old which is a crying shame because he was SO perfect! Bet he’s disappointed too, I remember there being an interview with him and him saying how interested he was in the part after reading HBP. Poor thing.

I’m suprised that Lav’s been described as being pretty. Suppose it makes sense though. You can imagine Parvati wanting to hang around someone who takes care of her looks, and Ron was so fussy about looks during the ball he’s unlikely to snog just anyone (and so passionately!) I suppose that was left out of the book description because it’s from Harry’s pov and he sees her only as being a bit of a ditz. Whoever they cast will probably stick in my mind as Lavendar since she’s a bit unclear in my head.

says:

lavender is a beautiful,hermione is a beautiful.but why they are than beautiful harry’s girlfriends(ginny and cho)in movies.Ä± dont like it.

says:

Wahey, I’ve just realised… maybe I do look like Lavender, no-one knows what she looks like XD

Now this makes me suspicious. WHY has Jo never described her?!

says:

Maybe CC will be cast as the older LV… the one who comes back to Hogwarts requesting the DADA job, and the one who works at Borgan and Bourkes.

says:

Christian Coulson was perfect and I dont think hes too old, when he was 24/25 he played a 14 year old

says:

The story has been reported on the BBC Newsround site, so it does look reasonably kosher.

says:

Cinderella, I agree with your comments, since couchKlovescough someone else will be returning to do the screenplay and the wonderful Goldenberg departing I am concerned about the continuity in the story __

says:

OT: Hey there’re new OotP stills over at HPANA :)

Kreacher’s PERFECT , they just took away his lion cloth thingy, but otherwise he looks much better than I imagined them to make him :)

says:

Damnit, I’m English and think I would at least stand a bit of a chance in the Lavender auditions, and don’t live that far away from London. But I go on holiday the day before grrr :( Well I’ll just have to hope we get some new characters they need to cast for DH xD.

says:

Harry Lloyd for Tom Riddle!

says:

i really hope christian is back at least for “Lord voldmort’s request” .....

says:

I’m surprised that they aren’t using one of the extras as Lavender. I thought the one that helped bring Ron into the common room with Ginny would be a perfect Lav. (GoF Movie).

says:

Aww, I hope Christian comes back for AT LEAST a few scenes, like older Tom! cries

says:

Yeah they need to get 11 year old Voldy, and they can just get Ray Fiennes to play Voldy in Lord Voldemorts request. I always thought that scene was years and years after Voldy left Hogwarts.

says:

July 1st? Right.

I so want to audition…

but I don’t know if my parents will let me lol.

It would be so awesome, though!!

says:

Oh, no! I love to act and I’d love to be Lavender but I’m going on holiday on the 1st of July! If only it was the other way round and it was on the 8th! I’m actually in London on the 8th! (and I don’t even live near there! It’d be perfect!) :(

xxx

says:

Ooh yeah. I’m so happy the Lavender storyline is in there!! This is the best news I’ve read in a while. :D :D

says:

Christian Coulson was born in 1978, so he is much too old to play a 15 year. Perhaps he’ll be able to play the Tom requesting the DADA job.

says:

Year old^^

(Sorry about the flub.)

says:

I can’t wait to see how many girls turn up there to do the casting!! XD I bet a lot of them will want the part to kiss Rupert… XD

says:

I hope they keep Christian C. in some way in the film…maybe as a slightly older Voldie or something. If they’ve done a good job of casting in the first place there’s not reason to change what works!

says:

I hope they keep Christian C. in some way in the film…maybe as a slightly older Voldie or something. If they’ve done a good job of casting in the first place there’s no reason to change what works!

says:

Hm, I also thought there would be an 11 year old Riddle, plus the 16 yr old, and Coulson to play the post-Hogwarts Riddle….but many scenes are probably being compressed or jettisoned for the film

I still want Tony Blair as the Muggle Prime Minister!

cheers

says:

“I hope they cast 11 yr. old Tom for the orphanage scene. I will be very disappointed if itâ€™s not in the film. That scene is vital b/c it sets up how Riddle liked to collect â€œtrophiesâ€ and will help introduce the horcruxes later.”

They don’t do open casting calls for all characters, only if they feel they need to. It is quite possible they might already have an actor in mind for the 11 year old Tom.

says:

I have a feeling that Lord Voldemort’s Request will be cut, unless there’s a horcrux there and Jo tells them to include it. It’s probably the least vital of the memories. I predict they will keep the Gaunt house, Hepzibah, Tom getting the ring, and Sluggy’s memory. Then they may show some clips of Merope dying at the orphanage and Voldy killing his parents. The press release says that we meet Tom Riddle at 16, so I guess they cut the orphanage scene as well.

I knew they would have to cut some of the memories because they would kill the pacing of a movie (even if they’re interesting). I’m actually curious to see how they handle all the exposition between Harry and Dumbledore.

HBP is much more about the characters than the previous books, and so I’m glad they’re taking some time to put in the character development.

says:

That’s what I was thinking as well Gillyweed. Just because there isn’t an open casting doesn’t mean that character won’t be in the film. And since HBP isn’t even being filmed for a couple of months I’d say it’s a little early to worry about it.

says:

Hm. I’m too old for Lavender and too female for Tom Riddle. Maybe they still need someone to be Merope, I can cross my eyes pretty neatly.

Skandar Keynes (name? The kid who played Edmund in the Lion, witch & Wardrobe) would make a good young Riddle.

says:

I’m not an actress but I am so there!

says:

Wish I was British SOOOO much…I want to try out as lavender. Too bad for the US

says:

I am glad that Lavender is going to be in the film. One it gives Ron some storyline and two it builds the romantic tension between Ron and Hermione.I was just listening to the HBP audio book and was thinking they would cut Lavender out and was disappointed. Lavender and Ron add some comic relief from some of the darker moments in the book.

says:

It makes sense that Christian Coulson would now be too old to play the same part. How sad for him. He was rather convincing as Tom Riddle.

Good luck to whomever is the lucky candidate this time.

says:

I fear Ron will loose his smuching moments as well as he lost the quidich scenes. They may cut most of the scenes with Ron and Lavender for the same reasons, it is not essential to the plot. It is commic relieve in an otherwise dark story. Too bad for Ron, not much kissing either… What a bummer!

My deepest sympathies, Ron.

says:

Aww, wow! Another Casting Call without me…sigh Man, I wish I lived in London…what I wouldn’t give to audition right now. Seriously, you have no idea. =[ Good luck to all who are going, though…and congrats to the one lucky enough to play it.

says:

Aww, wow! Another casting call without me…sigh Man, I wish I lived in London…what I wouldn’t give to audition right now. Seriously, you have no idea. =[ Good luck to all who are going, though…and congrats to the one lucky enough to play it.

says:

They may have already found the boy to play young Tom through an agency…they just couldn’t find one to play the teenage Tom. As for Lav…yea…there will be lots of girls wanting to be in the film and kiss Rupert (he does have nice lips).

says:

Aww, wow! Another casting call without me…sigh Man, I wish I lived in London…what I wouldn’t give to audition right now. Seriously, you have no idea. =[ Good luck to all who are going, though…and congrats to the one lucky enough to play it.

says:

Oooooh interesting, really tempted to audition for Lavender, I certainly qualify for the giggly aspect they mention lol, prob don’t stand alot of chance but might be worth giving it a go anyhow.

Jenny :-)

says:

I know Christian is not 2 old looking now because I have seen recent pictures of him and he seriously looks almost exactly the same. He has often talked about he looks far younger than he is.

says:

dont they need a 11 year old voldemort for the prphanage scene

says:

dont they need a 11 year old voldemort for the orphanage scene

says:

ughhh I would give anything to go to this in London, but of course I’m American…pity they couldnt of held the call in August when ill be visiting the UK…then I’d stand in line anyway..I’d have to figure out some way around the whole passport proof of citizenship thing lol. I’m training to be an actress and have been trying to get into these films since movie 1…so i’m never giving up…someday, even if its just an extra i’d love it! :) good luck to whoever lucky kids are going! i’m soo jealous!

says:

it’s also possible that coulson just didnt want to do the movie? its not like he signed a contract saying he would play tom riddle in EVERY FILM. and since there are so many “memory” scenes, it’s impossible to determine which tom riddle era this casting call is for, if that makes any sense.

i bet there’ll be loads of girls wanting to play lavender! should be interesting :)

says:

Damn. I wish I was younger and lived in the UK. =/

says:

Wasn’t it Jo who said that when she was writing some of the kissing scenes she was imagining Rupert sitting nervously at the Lavender tryouts? Hmmm – maybe they’ll let him give some input…

says:

Ah – forgot something. Someone earlier said they’d probably cut all of the Ron/Lav stuff – then why in the world would they hire on a Lavender, if that’s the case? What would be the point of wasting all this time and money?

says:

please please PLEASE, write something about a spanish young witch!! (I know you’ve already finished, but there’s still time to change … ;)

says:

It would have been clever of the filmmakers to include in the casting auditions announcement that the person should have a ressemblance to Christian Coulson. I think they [i]will[/i] be looking for people who look like Coulson, but less people would have turned up if they said this in the announcement and they’d have had fewer numbers to look at.

says:

damn! in bloody london in the middle of my bloody holiday! I could have made a good riddle, im 16 and look a little like coulson… why couldnt they have come to glasgow… after my hols lol oh well cant get everything u want…

says:

I would really love to audition for lavender as I missed out on the audition for luna. The only problem is, my 15th Birthday is 12 days after the audition date. I look old for my age so that would be no problem – I am just gutted that I can’t audition

says:

oo merope and the gaunts..whose playing them?!!!!
i also hope the teen LV is very good looking cause otherwise its disappointg.
also they better have the orphanage scene..

says:

They need two Toms- 11 year old and 16-20 year old to cover all the pensieve scenes, plus maybe CC? to return for the LV request. I was wondering whether they’re going to cut the 11 year old Riddle scene. I hope not.

They need to keep in all the Pensieve scenes because otherwise there won’t be much to the first half of the film apart from love interests and potions lessons, which really don’t appeal to me! But then Hr and Ron won’t have much to do until the end if they don’t stick in their arguing and the R/Lav stuff!

I think this is going to be a tricky film to do, except the cave onwards is obviously going to be excellent.

says:

ugh i live in scotland but im perfect for the roll of lavander! my dads working that weekend so cant take me to london to auditiond grr

xx

says:

Shooot…. I wanna be Lavender Brown!!! Because y’ll know what she gets to do… ;)

says:

Can somebody give me a description of what Lavender Brown looks like please if anybody know =D

says:

Can somebody give me a description of what Lavender Brown looks like please if anybody knows =D

says:

I’m 14… And I would love the part as Lavender… It’s so not fair… I only need to be a year older… But people say I look alot older than my age…. Do you think the casting people will let me audition… (Doubt it though :( ... Someone please reply to this comment…) xxxx

says:

Best of luck to all those that made/make it to the calls.
Lav was already in one of the movies so, donno what went on with that but anywayas good luck!
I am looking forward to seeing who they get for young tom! :D